The Cool Room

209 - Willie the Boatman

It's our final episode of 2023 and what a great one to finish with - Pat from Willie the Boatman joins Warren and Davydd for a trip through the last 10 years of the brewery!

As a little christmas bonus we've reduced the price of our last two tasting packs for the episode to just $25 - you can find them here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/willie-the-boatman-6-pack

We start out the interview with Pat riding his bike around [and nearly into] Shell Harbour before we settle down with a can of Albo and the sounds of mullet and prawns leaping in the water.

We hear how he brewed the first NEIPA in Australia [direct all correspondence to him], his time in reality TV and the changes he's made to some of the most iconic recipes from the brewery.

Who was Willie the Boatman? Why has 2023 been his hardest year in the industry and what keeps him inspired to keep going?

All these and more questions are answered in this ripper episode - with thanks to Lug+Carrie ebikes and 1980s stack hats!

208 - Kaiju & Noodledoof

It's the second episode we recorded at the 2023 Williamstown Beer & Cider Festival and again a big big thank you to Shane and the team who turned on an amazing festival!

It's a live recording so there's a bit of background noise but luckily Mik from Hopocrisy is still on hand to deal with the wandering saxophonist!

First off we catch up with all the news from Kaiju, where there's a new brewer in town and some well-known recipes changing! We hear all about what's changed in 2023 and their plans for 2024 and after some effort from the team Davydd learns that the Kaiju Cantina isn't a cantina anymore!

And then it's time to catch up with our friends from Noodledoof who have some great new beers to chat about - but who also catch Mik's eye with some spirits! 

 

 

207 - Hopocrisy, Coconspirators & Urban Alley

The first of two podcast recorded live at the 2023 Williamstown Beer and Cider Festival - huge thanks to Shane and festival team for welcoming us and putting together such an epic event.

Due to this being a live show, and the roaming saxophonist who was playing at the festival, audio quality is not up to our highest standard, but we hope that you'll enjoy some great insights from some of Melbourne's best brewers. 

In the absence of Mik from Hopocrisy returns to the show, this time as co-host to tell us all about the first two Willy beer festivals that he [almost] attended, as well as taking us on a little historical tour of the suburb.

Then it's Tim from Coconspirators introducing us to a new creation as well as our old favourite The Hostess. We hear all about the changes he's seen in the local beer scene in 2023 and the brewery's plans for 2024 including Davydd's many guesses as to what kind of restaurant might open at the tap house.

Then it's a chance to catch up again with Urban Alley, a year after we first encountered them at the last Williamstown Festival. We meet Ruth for the first time and hear about her story before arriving at UA and again get their insights into what's changed in Melbourne's beer scene in 2023.

206 - Madocke Brewing

Warren and Davydd are joined by Annelies from the Gold Coast's Madocke Brewing to hear all about her journey to become Australia's Champion Small Brewery!

A very limited number of tasting packs containing the beers we discuss are available from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/madocke-7-pack

We learn about Madocke's origins in Belgian styles and who they learned from before coming to Australia, and why they are so passionate about sharing their favourite aspects of their homeland.

We discover the story behind the Speciale Belge style, all about beet sugar what they'd like Santa to bring the brewery.

[Please note about 3.5 hours of medieval literature studies discussion have been removed from the original recording...]

205 - Escape Brewing

Nicole and Russell Matthews from Escape Brewing join Cory and Davydd for a tasting of their beers and a chat about the stories behind them.

You can grab the tasting pack for the podcast from our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/escape-brewing-6-pack

We learn all about how the pair met [except maybe exactly where it was], what happened in a german forest and precisely who does what around the brewery.

What was it like to get a brewery lease in February 2020, where does their love of european style beers come from and is there any chance they'll be making a sour any time soon.

Cory gets to ask our traditional coolroom question and we learn about a few of the brewing disasters that the team have been adjacent to!

 

204- Avnge Brewing

James from Avnge Brewing joins Warren and Davydd in the Thursday night zoom room to tell the story of his travels in beer and the creation of his brewery!

To maximise your experience of the episode we suggest you get the tasting pack of the beers we discuss from our online store: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/avnge-6-pack

We learn all about the origins of the brewery's name, how James found himself making beers out at Killer Sprocket even some secrets about Melbourne's street art scene.

We debate definitions of "dank", discover "drybeaning" and how you can tell if your beer has oxidised or not.

You might notice some heavy editing toward the end of the podcast - trust us, it's for the best!

203 - Bells Beach Brewing Live at Masterson’s

Davydd and Warren headed out to Masterson's Bar in Moonee Ponds for a live show with Dough and Adam from Bells Beach Brewing in front of a great live audience!

As ever with a live show there are a few audio issues to deal with [and a few forgetful host issues as well!]

We hear the origin stories of the brewery and which they tried before finding success in the market. We enjoy a cracking yuzu beer and learn all about the fruit that makes it so special. And then it's on to a WCIPA and the opportunity to discuss the "staunch" rules the brewery follows when creating this style.

Gill from Masterson's joins the chat and we explore which styles are hot at the moment, what makes a good beer rep and what are the best bits about doing a collaboration with one of your favourite breweries.

Don't forget to join us for our next live show at the Williamstown Beer and Cider Festival!

202 - Batch [with added Hopocrisy!]

Following on from Episode 201 Mik from Hopocrisy has stuck around in the zoom room with Warren and Davydd as we continue to chat with Andrew from Batch Brewing about their big rebrand!

You can taste the beers we're discussing while you listen to the podcast by visiting our online store here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/hopocrisy-wayward-batch-pack

We delve into the brewery's back story and learn all about the ideas that the team had before they started to set it and their venues up - and what they would have done differently now that they've had 10 years of experience.

And most importantly we learn why now is the right time for a rebrand and what the motivations were for choosing to work with Pocketbeagles' Clint Weaver who has already built up a large body of design work with other Australian breweries.

201 - Hopocrisy, Wayward & Batch

A big bumper episode today as 3 breweries enter the Thursday night Zoom Room to talk about all the news in the Australian brewing industry!

If you want to support the podcast and make the most of this episode make sure you have their right beers in front of you - you can buy the tasting pack here: https://the-coolroom-podcast.myshopify.com/products/hopocrisy-wayward-batch-pack

We kick things off with Mik Halse from Hopocrisy Brewing who shares tales from his long career in the Melbourne hospo scene from working in fine dining at age 14, to cheffing, to front of house, to repping and now to having his own brand.

We hear which breweries he visited and was inspired by, the best places to hide beers in an army kitchen and why he feels a little sense of happiness overtime he sees one of his beer cans in the gutter.

Then we are joined by Wayward and Batch for an in depth discussion of Wayward's new "Recession Ale" which has some of the most innovative can art we've seen in ages.

All three breweries discuss the changes they've seen in the Australian beer market since COVID lockdowns have ended and especially the differences between Sydney and Melbourne.

To hear more from all 3 stay tuned for episode 202!

200 - Burnley Oktoberfest

It's our 200th episode and what better place to celebrate than with our most excellent friends from Burnley Brewing.

There's been some changing faces but the quality of the beers is still awesome and our chat with Cal Fowler teaches us all about the history of the styles and the tricks to making them perfect.

We hear what brought him to the brewery and what tweaks he's made to the recipes left by Michael and just how stressful preparing for Oktoberfest is for the brewing team.

We learn of the carnage that a single washer can wreak on a mash tun and just how tricky it can be to avoid spelling mistakes when you work at Burnley.

With 6 different collaborators there's a lot to unpack with lessons from collaborating breweries many of whom we've featured on the podcast recently.

We learn all about this year's new awesome labels and the secret that's hidden in them and the nickname for Cal's hop gun!

And finally there's a lot of talk about gingerbread and cookie recipes!